Vince Russo believes the Montreal Screwjob can be traced back to one brutal line from Shawn Michaels that dragged Bret Hart’s marriage into WWE television.
Speaking on the WrestleBinge podcast, Russo looked back at Michaels’ infamous “Sunny Days” comment and claimed it destroyed what was left of the relationship between Michaels and Hart. Russo was producing the live segment, which meant there was no chance to cut the line or try the promo again once Michaels said it. Russo said Bret’s reaction was immediate because Hart’s wife watched the show and now had to hear her husband accused of having an affair with Sunny on national television.
“I was there when Shawn cut the promo that set it all off—the ‘Sunny Days’ promo. I was the producer of that. The problem was, Chris, it was live. Shawn knew it was live, so there was no do-over. He said it, and that started everything because Bret was like, ‘My freaking wife watches this show, man.’ That really set everything off.”
Russo did not try to soften his description of Michaels’ condition that night. He claimed Michaels was under the influence and tossed out the line without caring what it would do to Bret’s personal life.
“He was high out of his mind. I’m not going to pull anything. Obviously, he’s a different man today. He was high on whatever—painkillers, whatever these wrestlers take. He was high out of his mind, and he just said it. He didn’t give a crap.”
Russo then made his strongest claim of the entire conversation, stating that the “Sunny Days” remark directly set the Montreal Screwjob in motion.
“That line right there led to the Screwjob, absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt. That line started it all.”
When asked what happened once Bret returned backstage, Russo said Hart was furious right away. Russo also backed Bret and Sunny’s denials that anything had ever happened between them.
“Immediately. The funny thing is, and I believe this, both of them have said nothing happened between the two of them, and I believe them.”
Russo pointed out that Sunny had admitted to other affairs in later interviews, including one involving the British Bulldog. In Russo’s mind, that made her denial about Bret more believable. The real damage, according to Russo, was that Bret now had to return home and explain a public accusation that Russo believes was completely false.
“Sunny said she had a romp in the hay with the British Bulldog. Why is she going to say that? Both of them have said nothing happened. Sunny did these interviews before she got incarcerated where she was very honest.”
“That’s what really pissed Bret off, because nothing happened. Now he’s got to go home and answer to his wife. Nothing freaking happened.”
Russo said the comment cut even deeper because Bret regularly brought his wife and children around WWE. This was not a private insult shared between two wrestlers. Michaels threw the accusation onto live television while Bret’s family was closely connected to the company.
“Bret used to bring his family around a lot. His wife was around a lot. His family was around a lot. Think about this. Your family is always around, and he makes a comment like this that is not true.”
Russo said the entire situation might have played out differently if the accusation had been true. Since he believes it was a lie, he sees the line as the moment the relationship fell apart beyond repair.
“If this is true, it’s a different story. But if it’s a lie, that kicked it all off. That was it, man.”
Russo was also asked whether Michaels was deliberately trying to wound Bret or simply chasing a reaction from the crowd. He blamed Michaels’ condition and said he doubts the line would have happened if Michaels had been sober.
“I think he was just high, to be honest with you. If he was not on something, I don’t think he would have ever said it.”
Russo believes Michaels wanted heat and reached for the most personal attack he could find without thinking about what came next.
“He probably just wanted to get heat. He probably wanted to dig as deep and low as he possibly could. He probably thought it was funny.”
The conversation then turned to what Survivor Series 1997 might have looked like if Michaels had never made the “Sunny Days” comment. Russo did not hesitate. He claimed Bret would have lost to Michaels and the Montreal Screwjob never would have happened.
“No Screwjob. No, nothing. He would have just put Michaels over at Survivor Series, probably.”
Russo agreed that Bret was already leaving WWE because he and Vince McMahon could not reach an agreement on his contract. Under normal circumstances, Russo believes Bret would have completed his run by putting Michaels over before heading to WCW.
The “Sunny Days” shot was not the only issue. The hosts also brought up the story that Michaels thanked Bret for being willing to lose to him, then told Bret he would never return the favor. Russo confirmed that exchange played a major role in Bret changing his mind. The real damage, according to Russo, was that Bret now had to return home and explain a public accusation that Russo believes was completely false.
“You’ve got to understand, you had two complete, total opposite people. Bret was always serious—the Canadian hero. He very rarely smiled. It took something to get him to laugh.”
“Then you had Shawn, who didn’t give a crap what he said to who. Literally, two total opposites.”
When asked whether Michaels’ refusal to return the favor caused Bret to decide he would no longer lose to him, Russo gave a direct answer.
“Yeah, that was it. That was it.”
Russo’s version of events paints the Montreal Screwjob as more than a championship dispute. In his eyes, it was the final explosion after Michaels embarrassed Bret’s family, refused to offer him the same professional respect and pushed their rivalry far beyond anything happening inside the ring.
Do you believe the “Sunny Days” comment was the real turning point that led to the Montreal Screwjob, or was the situation already too far gone? Leave your feedback in the comments.
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